HSBC's Twickenham experience

The British

& Irish Lions

Tour to New Zealand 2017

HSBC's Twickenham experience

Six schools from Warwickshire, North Midlands and Staffordshire moved a step closer to a dream trip to Twickenham last Thursday when they won through from the Midlands West finals day of the HSBC Rugby Festivals in Birmingham watched by HSBC ambassador Jason Robinson.

The schools will now compete in the national finals at Staines RFC on May 2. The top teams from that event will then have the honour of running out at Twickenham later that day in front of a 40,000 crowd at the annual Army versus Navy match.

"Having the chance to play at Twickenham is a big incentive," said Robinson, who toured with the Lions in 2001 and 2005, scoring 11 tries in as many games.

"The closest most of them have got to Twickenham is watching a game on TV.

"I know as a player that it's such a fantastic place to play and if they get that opportunity they will never forget it, that's for sure.

"To be able to walk down that tunnel and to grace the pitch is something that not many people can say they have ever done."

Jason Robinson is heading up the HSBC Rugby Festivals which are being run across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.